Western Kansas world., 1887-10-29
HIS ONLY LOVE.
by EUGENE DARKLEY.

That Pat was either actually suffer
ing from mental alteration or en-
deavoring his utmost to inspire one
with that suspicion, I could not we'll
doubt. For several days he had been
acting in a strange, [ might say re-
markably absurd manner, and appeared
entirely to have lost his gay, almost
French, spirits.
Pat Oakley was a genuine Dublin
Irishman, generous to fault reckless,
brimful of fun and animal spirits. and
bound to have little taste of foreign
life, as he expressed it; and I was a
6lase Englishman, travelling to kill
time. We became acquainted with
each other at Geneva, in Switzerland,
and warm friendship soon sprang up
between us; thenceforth we were in
separable companions, travelling every
where together.
Before we departed each for his own
country, Pat and I concluded to spend
few weeks in Paris. It is needless to
state that time never hung heavy on
our hands during our soisurn there.
No one in that gayest of cities, with
plenty of money, ever experiences any
difficulty in finding plenty of amuse-
ment. But suddenly Pat grew sulky
and silent. spending his afternoons l
knew not where, and his evenings in
pacing up and down the floor of our
spacious chamber.
One evening about twilight, just as I
had thrown myself upon the sofa, I
heard Pats heavy tread in the hall.
He threw open the door with great
deal of unnecessary violence, and
glared about the room with an exceed
ingly savage scowl at nothing in par
ticular, or rather at everything in
general-the glare was not at all spe-
cifc. Having uttered in sepulchral
tone some choice expressions rarely
heard off the tragic stage, he entered
the chamber and began pacing the
floor. Pausing for a moment to kick
over the spittoon and to utter a most
pathetic groan, he went to his writing
desk and took therefrom o small pack
age of dainty notes; these he proceeded
to ignite, and watched them burn with
the air of one Offering up sacrifice;
next, he took from his pocket minia-
ture, seemed about to break it in twain,
but, changing his mind, flung it impa-
tiently from him, and seating himself
on his trunk, sighed heavily.
had discovered the secret of Pats
absurd conduct; he was deeply, des-
perately in love, or at least imagined
himself to be. T buried my face in the
velvet cushion to smother my laughter,
but he must have heard it, for he sprang
up with a very impolite ejaculation,
aud began pacing the floor again; /;
finally he threw himself on the couch
and-and the fellow actually burst into
tears.
"Pat," I exclaimed, you're a fool!"
al know am, Bob!" he said, rising;
"but light cigar and come and sit
down by the window, and I'll tell you
all about it.
L could not do less than comply with
this rational request of my irrational
friend.
"Well, Bob," he began, "you remem-
Der that night about two weeks ago
you declined to go out with me on the
score of indispositien, or something Of
the sort, and left you lying on the
sofa humming one of those confounded
tuneless English songs of yours, and
started for the Theater Francais.
Well, I did not go; changing my mind,
I drifted about from street to street
until I completely lost my bearings
Just as I was passing dark, dismal
looking lane I heard o smotLered
shrek. and regardless of the conse-
quences, I rushed down the lane whence
it proceeded, and beheld q woman
struggling in the grasp of two ruffians.
knocked one of them down. and the
other took to his heels The woman
was nearly frightened out of her senses,
and gladly accepted my offer to escort
her to her home. She said the men
who had assaulted her were thieves,
and that they had nearly succeeded in
robbing her when I came to her assist
ance. When we had issued from the
lane into decently-lighted street, /
scrutinized her features. Twas thunder
struck. The woman was delicate girl
of nineteen summers. Her figure was
petite and graceful, almost fragile.
She had hazel hair and dark-brown,
saucy, laughing eyes that would set
your brain in whirl, and the softest,
silvery voice I ever listened to. She
was my ideal exactly. You should
have seen her, old fellow!" And he
gave me such hearty slap on the back
that moved out of reach lest another
outbulst of enthusiasm should be fol-